Instant Cities: Bruges

Bruges › Places and landmarks

Gruuthuse

The palace of the lords of Gruuthuse, who could tax gruut, the herbs for brewing beer.

See it in 3D Watch the tour

Photo: Wolfgang Staudt, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The lords of Gruuthuse grew rich on a monopoly: every brewer had to buy gruut, the mix of herbs used to flavour beer before hops, from them. Their 15th-century palace on the Dijver now houses a museum of the city’s history.

A little wooden oratory links it to the Church of Our Lady next door, so the lords could hear mass without going outside. Visit it in 3D ›

More in Bruges

MarktBruges’ market square, with the Belfry on its south side and the Provincial Court on the east. BelfryThe 83-metre belfry over the Markt: 366 steps up to its carillon of 47 bells. BurgThe square of the city hall, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the old court. City HallOne of the oldest city halls in the Low Countries, begun in 1376, with a Gothic Hall full of murals. Basilica of the Holy BloodA Romanesque chapel with a Gothic one above it, holding a relic of the blood of Christ. RozenhoedkaaiThe most photographed corner of Bruges, where the canal turns under the Belfry. Church of Our LadyIts brick tower of 115 metres is one of the tallest in the world; inside is Michelangelo’s Madonna. St Saviour’s CathedralBruges’ oldest parish church, which became its cathedral in the 19th century. BegijnhofThe beguinage of 1245: white houses round a lawn of tall trees, still home to a community of nuns. MinnewaterThe “lake of love” at the south end of the old town, with swans and a lock house. Horse carriagesHorse-drawn carriages clip-clop through the old town from the Markt. Canal boatsLittle open boats glide along the reien, the canals of Bruges, under low bridges. Bruges laceBobbin lace, made by hand in Bruges since the 16th century.